Breaking: 11 of 12 Pats' footballs under-inflated

[Cali_Democrat]

Last edited Wed Jan 21, 2015, 02:30 PM - Edit history (2)

Surprise...surprise...surprise....

Belichick caught cheating again.

Shocking!



http://espn.go.com/boston/story/_/id/12202450/nfl-says-new-england-patriots-had-inflated-footballs-afc-championship-game

The NFL has found that 11 of the New England Patriots' 12 game balls were inflated significantly below the NFL's requirements, league sources involved and familiar with the investigation of Sunday's AFC Championship Game told ESPN.

The investigation found the footballs were inflated 2 pounds per square inch below what's required by NFL regulations during the Pats' 45-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, according to sources.

"We are not commenting at this time," said Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior vice president of communications.

League sources have confirmed that the footballs were properly inspected and approved by referee Walt Anderson 2 hours and 15 minutes before kickoff, before they were returned to each team.

----

edit....article was updated.

[mythology]

1. If this is found to be true, Belichick should be banned from the league

A second instance of organizational cheating means that obviously fining him and the team and taking a draft pick wasn't enough of a disincentive to stop him from cheating. In that case, ban him for life.

It's especially telling that he would cheat against a team the Patriots have done very well against in the recent past. If he's that accustomed to cheating that he will do it when it has limited benefit, then one has to assume that he's cheated in other big opportunities such as their Super Bowl wins.

[Capt. Obvious]

7. Good luck with that

[rocktivity]

2. The perfect ending to a perfect season

Forfeit their victory over the Colts then, and push back the Super Bowl for a week. Force New England to sell their team next season, while you're at it.


rocktivity

[Capt. Obvious]

8. Good luck with that

[chelsea0011]

3. The NFL still has to show that the Patriots were tampering with the balls during the game.

If the refs checked every ball with a gauge before the game (did they?) and then the balls were checked again at halftime and then they were showed to be they were under-inflated, they still have to have proof that the Patriots tampered with the balls. So, do the Patriots and any team have access to the balls during halftime out of the refs view? I think this story will be more about do the refs really check all the balls before and during games or is this one of those "rules" that is all but ignored because teams don't really care about it.

[caraher]

4. Yes, they do control the balls during the game

From the article in the OP:

Under NFL rules, each team provides balls each game for use when its offense is on the field. The balls are inspected before the game by the officiating crew, then handled during the game by personnel provided by the home team.

No way do the refs keep track of 12 footballs while calling the game. The home team in effect has custody of the balls.

Busted.

[KamaAina]

14. Um, th refs handle the ball in use after each and every play

And they somehow managed to miss this?!

[Capt. Obvious]

18. The explanation explains itself

They were in on it!

[KamaAina]

19. I figured someone would come up with that

[caraher]

22. Good point

Though... I'd guess players have a better sense for how a ball should feel, since refs don't typically have people trying to rip them out of their hands on a regular basis. So unless one were looking for it, non-comical yet significant underinflation may not be noticed?

[KamaAina]

20. What happened to the balls after the game? And when was this discovered?

Could someone have deflated the balls after the game in an apparently successful attempt to embarrass the Pats? This would also explain why one of the 12 balls was fully inflated; that would have been the one they were using at the end of the game.

[RockaFowler]

5. I think a change is in order

No more balls for each team. They have to have standard balls. It's the only way for it to be fair!!

[trumad]

6. I can't believe they don't.

A gazillon dollar league can certainly hire an official to take care of the balls.

[caraher]

10. Do they use game balls to warm up on the sidelines?

If so, it may be hard to police what happens to them during the game, even with an official on each sideline.

Of course, teams in a gazillion dollar league should be able to afford as many balls for sideline warmups as they like, with the game balls kept under lock and key (at least metaphorically) until needed.

[TBF]

23. I did some research - the balls are made

by Wilson in one factory in Ohio that employs 130 people. Ball pressure 13 psi - at least that is how they come out of the factory. Wouldn't be hard to make it a rule that they stay that way.

http://www.wilson.com/en-us/football/nfl/wilson-and-the-nfl/trivia/

[Capt. Obvious]

9. The Zapruder film will clearly show

Belicheat's needle gage moving back and to the left.

[Dr. Strange]

12. That is one magic pump!

[Capt. Obvious]

13. Does anyone know where Roger McDowell was on Sunday?

[Dr. Strange]

16. Standing behind the grassy Chuck Noll?

[trotsky]

11. Belicheat cheated again?

No way! What are the odds?

[KamaAina]

15. The definitive word on the subject

http://www.democraticunderground.com/120451150

[VWolf]

17. Hey, that's not all they did ...

http://www.theonion.com/articles/nfl-investigating-whether-patriots-played-game-wit,37805

[KamaAina]

21. Look, boys and girls! We get to work out on this in GD!

Four times!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026117185

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026116245

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026117045

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026116890